Plot:
Hmmm…. Well, the narrator, who isn’t always sure he (?) speaks the words he hears, seems to be waking from a deep sleep. Or maybe’s coming into being. He’s with Debbie. He seems to know Debbie. There’s a scratching from outside, but neither he nor Debbie knows what it is.
Thoughts:
This reads like a writer’s exercise. The author’s notes confirm that that is precisely what it is. It at least has a beginning, middle, and an end, but it’s written for writers, not readers.
This is something, I think, that would be passed around among writers at a coffee shop or maybe a workshop. There is a definite, “Yeah, I get it” moment, but for the average reader, who is not a writer, it may not be as cute.
As cute as I found the story, I cannot recommend it.
Bio:
According to his blurb, author William Mangieri is a blogger, karaoke junkie, former theater student, and recovered wargamer, who spends a lot of time wondering “what if….” He writes from Texas, where he lives with his wife and the ghost of a nine-pound westie as he tries to find ways to flesh out his own existence. His fiction–including his first novel Swordsmaster–can be found on Smashwords, Amazon, and other online sellers. William Mangieri’s Writing Page is at williammangieri.wordpress.com
The story can be read here.
Title: “A Background Poorly Written”
Author: William Mangieri
First published: Daily Science Fiction, June 15, 2020
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 
Thank you for sharing